Proceedinf/s. civ 



Cheyenne tribe, which attracted much attention in consequence 

 of the interest taken in the present out-break of these Indians 

 and the Sioux. The basket of flowers, gathered m the open air 

 at Addiscombe on the day of the Soiree, contained 121 varieties 

 collected by Mrs. Lovett : this number is 28 below the previous 

 year, in consequence of the very severe frosts experienced in the 

 earlier part of the month. Mr. Bidwell exhibited a fine series ot 

 the eggs of birds, illustrating abnormal forms, marking and 

 colourisation, caused in some cases by immaturity, m others by 

 disease or the imperfect secretion of the colouring matter, borne 

 heads of the celebrated mummy cats from Egypt, were exhibited 

 by Mr. E. Straker, and Mr. Bayard showed some casts of very 

 fine Greek gems, and there were several good series of botanical 

 specimens, fossils, and recent shells, lent by various members, 

 besides a fine trophy of heads and antlers of animals by Mr. 

 Thorpe, and a large number of sundry objects which proved ot 

 great interest to our visitors. The total number present was 

 683, or 53 more than at the previous Soiree, and 7 below that 

 of 1888. 



During the year the exhibits at the ordinary meetings have 

 largely increased, and have, I think, given rise to considerable 

 interest at our monthly gatherings. They will be found duly 

 specified later on in this Eeport. I hope we may have still more 

 during the present year. Almost all objects in nature prompt 

 discussion and elicit information, and nothing is too humble to 

 be beneath notice. 



I cannot conclude without some remarks about the future of 

 our Club. In October last, I brought forward a scheme for 

 enlarging the sphere of our Society, and acquiring a large and 

 serviceable suite of rooms, useful alike to all sections and every 

 member of our Club. This scheme, which to succeed required 

 a very general support, failed from reasons with which you are 

 all acquainted, but I still hope that the remarkable cordiality of 

 the support which was accorded to the scheme is an omen that 

 we may yet look forward to the time when something may be 

 done in this direction. As an instance of the way ua which my 

 project was received by many of our members, I should like to 

 record here that unsolicited letters of guarantee towards future 

 contingent expenses were sent to me for sums exceeding in the 

 aggregate four hundred pounds ; and that a large number of 

 letters were received by me cordially approving of my suggestion ; 

 whilst anything Hke disapproval of the project was conspicuous 

 by its absence. With the growing usefulness of our Society, and 

 the rapidly increasing and valuable work done by our Sub- 

 Sectious, we find ourselves out-growing our accommodation. 



